Jack,

> >> The open source version of Interbase is the same way.
>
> What's the difference between the open source version of Interbase
> and Firebird?

Firebird is a separate open-source project, which started from the
original IB 6.0 code released in July 2000.

Currently, you can take a IB6.0 database and use Firebird with 100%
compatibility.

> Is Firebird just a derivative that's being maintained
> to keep up with commercial Interbase?

Keep up? No, beat!

> Or, are the two on separate tracks so that down the road the same
> database can't be managed by either system?

The honest answer is that the two engines are now on separate tracks.

The fact that Borland is focusing on the commercial/'certified' engine
and not posting/updating the code to their open source version only
further accelerates with eventuality.

There are already feature in the latest releases of each product which,
if used, make interoperability impossible.

As an open-source project, Firebird will be more open to
addressing/easing developer/user migration from IB to Firebird. There
are project members which are still using both products, so inevitably
someone will create a tool to migrate from IB to Firebird.


--
Sean Leyne

There is nothing wrong with Interbase,
that can't be fixed with Firebird.
http://FirebirdSQL.org